Does Teeth Clenching Cause Your Morning Headaches? | New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain (2024)

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Does Teeth Clenching Cause Your Morning Headaches? | New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain? ›

In conclusion, if you've been waking up in the morning with a stiff, painful or locked jaw or if you experience morning headaches, sensitive teeth, earaches, a bite that feels off-balance, or your jaw clicks – there's a good chance you have Sleep Bruxism.

But if you wake up with headaches more often than not, it could be a sign that there's a different cause of your pain. Do you clench your jaw while you sleep? Do you grind your teeth at night? You may not even realize it, but morning headaches could be a sign of temporomandibular joint disorder — also known as TMJ.

You can try several other remedies in addition to using a mouthguard to manage bruxism headaches, such as: Stress-reduction strategies like deep breathing and meditation. Applying a warm compress to areas of discomfort. Over-the-counter medications such acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a sleep disorder, commonly co-exists with sleep bruxism. Doctors see it as a risk factor for this condition. According to one study, around 15–74% of people with OSA may develop morning headaches from grinding their teeth.

Temporomandibular disorders such as bruxism may cause painful clinical conditions and over time lead to chronic facial pain.

Teeth grinding (bruxism) is the most common cause of jaw pain. If you notice that your jaw only hurts in the morning when you wake up, and your jaw pain becomes less intense as the day goes on, nighttime teeth grinding is the most likely culprit. Teeth grinding can cause a lot of stress on your jaw muscles.

Self-Care Measures: Exercises specifically designed for the TMJ, such as resisted opening and closing of the mouth, side-to-side jaw movement, and forward jaw movement, can help relieve tension in the joint and ease discomfort. Applying a cold compress or heat pad to the affected area can also help.

A person's TMJ muscles span their jaw, cheeks, and the side of their head. Bruxism can overwork these muscles to the point of throbbing headache pain, and in some instances, migraines and neck pain. TMJ can trigger confusing referred pain in the form of headaches, neck pain, shoulder aches, and even toothaches.

If you notice tooth pain, especially when biting down or ingesting hot or cold foods or beverages, it may be a sign that a dental issue is triggering your headache. Facial Pain or Pressure: Dental-related headaches can also cause facial pain or pressure.

What is the best medicine for TMJ pain? The best medicines for TMJ pain are over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatories, such as Tylenol and ibuprofen. In some extreme circ*mstances, a dentist may prescribe something stronger, but even then it's likely to be a prescription ibuprofen, not opioid painkiller.

How to stop clenching your teeth in your sleep? ›

Practicing techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or engaging in activities that help reduce stress can significantly reduce jaw clenching. Additionally, getting regular massages can help relax the muscles around your jaw, promoting a sense of relaxation and reducing the urge to clench.

What causes bruxism? Oral health specialists often point to too much stress and certain personality types as causes of bruxism. Bruxism often affects people with nervous tension, such as anger, pain, or frustration. It also affects people with aggressive, hurried, or overly competitive tendencies.

Most often, though, the pain is felt in the jaw muscles, which are achy and tense. Remember, jaw muscles extend throughout the facial area, all the way up to your temples, so jaw pain is often described as face pain. Sometimes people confuse it for sinus pain.

The constant muscle tension and pressure can lead to wrinkles, particularly around the eyes and forehead. Additionally, Bruxism can cause headaches and migraines, which can further worsen facial tension and contribute even more to a tired, worn-out appearance.

Many cases of bruxism are mild and may not require treatment; however, severe bruxism can lead to damaged teeth, jaw pain or tiredness, and headache.

These headaches may feel like any other headache or like a tension headache, but they tend to occur and recur in one or more regions of the head and/or face. You may also feel facial tightness/pain, or jaw tightness/pain/clicking. You might also experience a change in your bite.

The muscles of the TMJ run along your jaw and cheeks, and sometimes these muscles can cause pain — even headaches. When the muscles in your jaw tense up — like when you grind your teeth — the pain can spread to other TMJ muscles alongside your cheeks and on the sides and top of your head, causing a headache.

The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) on either side of your jaw are more than just a mouthful to pronounce. They may also be the source of your headaches. If you wake up with headaches, or you have unexplained headaches throughout the day that are accompanied by jaw pain, the two may be related.